By Okechukwu Nwanguma
There is a troubling pattern unfolding in Imo State – one that speaks to a deeper crisis within Nigeria’s law enforcement architecture.
The Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Imo State Police Command, notoriously known as “Tiger Base,” has increasingly become synonymous not with protection, but with fear, opacity, and impunity.
The recent arrest of Mr. Uchechukwu Maduakolam and Mr. Kenneth Anyanwu once again brings this disturbing reality into sharp focus. Reports indicate that on April 13, 2026, armed operatives – allegedly from Tiger Base – stormed a village gathering in Umuonyehiele, Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area, opening fire in the process. Mr. Anyanwu was reportedly shot and left bleeding before both men were taken away. Since then, their whereabouts remain unknown. Their families have been plunged into anguish, unable to confirm their safety or access them.
This is not just an isolated incident. It is emblematic of a systemic breakdown – where arrests are carried out with excessive force, detainees are held incommunicado, and due process is treated as optional. In a constitutional democracy, this is unacceptable.
The law is clear. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees the right to life, dignity, and personal liberty. The Administration of Criminal Justice Act sets out procedures for arrest, detention, and trial. Nigeria is also bound by international human rights obligations that prohibit torture and extrajudicial killing. Yet, these safeguards appear routinely disregarded.
If there is credible evidence that Mr. Maduakolam and Mr. Anyanwu have committed any offence, the proper course of action is simple: charge them to court. Justice is not served in the shadows of detention cells or at the barrel of a gun. It is served in open court, where evidence is tested, and rights are protected.
What makes this situation even more alarming is that it reflects a broader culture of fear surrounding Tiger Base. Accounts from victims and families suggest a system where detention is weaponized, and freedom is often negotiated under duress. In a recent account shared with me by a relative of a victim, a young man was reportedly arrested simply because a former schoolmate – allegedly labeled a “suspected cult member” – visited him. No incriminating evidence was found. Yet, his release only came after his father sold property to raise ₦200,000, driven by the fear that his son could be “wasted” if he remained in custody.
This is extortion under the cloak of law enforcement. It is a perversion of justice. And perhaps most dangerously, it is carried out with brazen confidence – officers reportedly taunting victims with the refrain: “nothing will happen.”
When law enforcement agents begin to operate above the law, the very foundation of society is threatened. Public trust erodes. Communities become hostile. And the line between crime control and criminality blurs dangerously.
There is an urgent need for decisive intervention.
The Inspector-General of Police must immediately investigate the operations of Tiger Base and ensure accountability for any violations. The Commissioner of Police in Imo State must act swiftly to establish the whereabouts of the detained individuals and guarantee their safety. Silence or inaction in the face of these allegations only deepens suspicion and emboldens abuse.
Equally, the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, as the Chief Security Officer of the state, cannot afford to look away. The primary duty of government is the protection of lives and property – not the normalisation of fear. Imo State must not become a place where citizens dread those sworn to protect them.
Nigeria has walked this path before. The abuses associated with units like SARS sparked nationwide outrage and led to the End SARS protests. Those protests were not merely about a police unit; they were a rejection of impunity. It would be a grave mistake to allow history to repeat itself under a different name.
What is required now is not rhetoric, but action: transparency, accountability, and strict adherence to the rule of law. The lives of Mr. Maduakolam and Mr. Anyanwu may depend on it. More broadly, the credibility of the justice system – and the safety of countless Nigerians – hangs in the balance.
There must be an end to Tiger Base’s impunity. And that end must begin now.
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